Hamill set to sign until end of season

The Cliftonville man was placed on the transfer list at Solitude after his loan spell at Lisburn Distillery expired at the end of December. Hamill has since been training with Glenavon and boss, Marty Quinn, is keen to sign the 33-year-old on a contract that will keep him at Mourneview Park until the end of the season.

“Rory’s in training with us at the minute and I’m having a look at him,” confirmed the Blues’ boss.

“I know him well and I just wanted a look at him in the flesh with a view to bringing him on board. Some people will look at it as a negative thing but I’m just looking at it until the end of the season.

“He can then prove to me that he’s fit for another year and that’s basically the way we’re speaking at the minute. There’s nothing clarified or rubber-stamped as yet and he won’t be available for Saturday. I don’t think there will be anything happening on that front for another week or so.

“He’s in as good a shape as I’ve seen him in a long time. He can hold the ball up well, he’s a strong lad and he’s certainly good in the changing room as well.”

Hamill began his career way back in 1993 at Southampton before moving to then Third Division, Fulham where he played 48 games and scored seven goals.

Seventeen years on, Hamill’s mooted move to Glenavon has been met with indifference by many of the club’s fans who had hoped for a more youthful solution to their side’s striking dilemma. However, Quinn is content that Hamill can do a job until the end of the current season before his long-term plans for the side kick into action.

“Plans are underway to get other people in for the longer term but this is me looking at what I think we need at the minute to keep us ticking over,” he told the ‘MAIL.’

“My long-term plans won’t be to sign 32 or 33 year-old players; that’s a no-brainer. I’m making overtures to get players in at the end of the season and I’ve a couple of letters off to clubs at the minute questioning permission to talk to players who are coming out of contract.”

If Hamill does, as is expected, join the ranks at Mourneview Park, will he be the only player to join Hugh Davey and Barry Johnston as new recruits in the January transfer window?

“I can’t see anyone else coming in this month,” answered Quinn.

Quinn has been frustrated by the lack of activity regarding the four players he had, last week, placed on the transfer-list. Gary Liggett’s loan move to Loughgall looks no closer to taking place whilst Carrick Rangers boss, Stephen Small was given permission to talk to Tuda Murphy but as yet, hasn’t made contact with the player himself.